Method of and apparatus for manipulating talking machine or phonograph records



Nov. 26, 1935. R. F. MALLINA 2,022,293

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Original Filed July 18, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet l Qnmntoz Nov. 26, 1935. R. F. MALLINA 2,022,293

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING .GHINE 0R PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Original Filed'July 18, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN OR. W Z 72/442 2 I 1/3 dflknmq Nov. 26, 1935. R. F. MALLINA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS 18, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed July Nov. 26, 1935. R. F. MALLINA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MAG INE OR PHONOGHAPH RECORDlS H V V Origina 1y 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 Filed Ju Nov. 26, 1935- R. F. MALLINA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULAT TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS 1 Filed July 18, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Origina.

- R. F. MALLINA METHOD OF AND APPARA Nov. 26, 1935. TUS FOR MANIPULA'IING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Original Filed July 18, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 2,022,293 TING H RECOR 1 Filed July 18, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet '7 26, 1935- R. F. MALLINA METHOD OF ,AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULA TALKING MACHINE 0R PHONOGRAP DS Origina Nov. 26, 1935. R. F. MALL|NA 2,022,293

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Original Filed July 18, 1929 A 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Nov. 26, 1935. MALUNA 2,022,293

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Original Filed July 18; 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 gin mutter,

. q 5% M1 J? MM 3 3f I I attorney R. F. MALLINA METHOD OF'AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MA 7 Nov.

CHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Original Filed July 18, 1929 Nov. 26, 1935. R. F. MALLINA 2 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Original Filed July 18, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 Nov. 26, 1935. R. F, MALUNA 2,022,293

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING TALKING MACHINE OR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Original Filed July 18, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet l3 14/6 5 i2 i fa/ 150 'y., I o a 1 WHHHIHHIW H 1 3 Q W 22 155 147 12?; Y1 T 14/66 a R. F. MALLINA ARATUS FOR MANIPUL Ndv. 26, 1935.

METHOD OF AND APP ATING TALKING MACHINE 0R PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed July 18, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Original Patented Nov. 26, 19 35 PATENT. OFFICE METHOD OF AND ULATING TALKING GRAPH RECORDS I Rudolph F. Mallina,

APPARATUS FOR MANIP- MACHINE OR PHONO- New York, N. Y., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Radio Corporation of America, New York, Delaware Application July N. Y., a corporation of 18, 1929, Serial No. 379,285

Renewed April 26, 1935 43 Claims.

. comprehends the manipulation of disks other than talking machine or phonograph records, said last named disks being utilizable for any desired purpose, control or otherwise.

In accordance with my invention, sound is reproduced, independently of manual control, from each of a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records having difierent diameters and grouped or stacked upon a turntable. More particularly, the aforesaid records are disposed on said turntable in any desired or predetermined order, the respective topmost records being removed therefrom after each period of sound reproduction.

Further in accordance with my invention, a

turntable carrying a group of talking machine or phonograph records is elevated step-by-step to remove the respective topmost records therefrom,

sound being reproduced from each topmost record after each step of elevation of said turntable.

Further in accordance with my invention, relative movement is effected between a turntable and its stem to disengage a turntable-carried talking machine or phonograph record from the latter, said record being removed from above said turntable in response to the action of previously applied force.

More particularly, relative movement, as aforesaid, is obtained by elevating said turntable with respect to its stem and the record is removed from above said turntable in response to the action of a member biased into engagement with the periphery of said record previous to disengagement thereof from said stem.

Further in accordance with my invention, elevation of said turntable, as aforesaid, is discontinned by a member moved by the aforesaid biased member.

Further inaccordance with my invention, a turntable carrying a plurality of talking machine X or phonograph records is moved upwardly stepby-step by pawl and ratchet mechanism, the latter being rendered temporarily non-operative each time that one of said records is moved from said turntable.

More particularly, said pawl is disengaged from' said ratchet in response to a control effected by a member shifting the'respectivetopmost records laterally after the respective periods of sound reproduction.

More particularly, a turntable controlled as just stated or in an equivalent manner is adapted for supplementary manual control whereby it may be elevated or lowered at will.

Further in accordance with my invention, there is associated with a turntable having a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records grouped thereon a stem which projects upwardly beyond the upper surface of said turntable and extends through the center perforations of said records, said turntable being elevated inde- 1o pendently of said stem.

More particularly, said stem is rotatable with said turntable and comprises spring fingers biased into engagement with adjacent surfaces of said records.

Further in accordance with my invention, a member or lever for removing a talking machine or phonograph record from a turntable is utilized for controlling movementof a sound reproducing instrumentality coactable' with individual rec- 20 ords carried by said turntable; more particularly, said member or lever functions to position said sound reproducing instrumentality above 9. record on said turntable just prior to initiation of a period of sound reproduction.

Further in accordance with my invention, a sound reproducing system wherein a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records are stacked on a turntable is so arranged that operation of the motive device for said system is dis- I) continued after sound'has been reproduced from the lowermost record on said turntable.

' Further in accordance with my invention, the upper face of a turntable comprises a spiral groove of relatively great pitch and terminating I in a suitable control groove, as one that is eccentrically disposed with respect to the turntable center.

My invention resides in the method, system, apparatus, features of construction and combi- 00 nations of parts of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my method and for an illustration of some of .the many forms my invention may take, reference is to be had to the I accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of talking machine or phonograph mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a. part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, corresponding generally with Fig. 2 but 'with the motor board omitted;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of my novel talking machine or phonograph mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, and is taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5a is a vertical sectional view of a. modified form of turntable utilizable in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 5b is a plan view of the turntable shown in Fig. 5a;

Fig. 6 is a transverse, vertical sectional view,

partly in elevation, and is taken substantially on the line li6 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in plan, and is taken on the line I-I of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation and with parts omitted, and is taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation and with parts omitted, and is taken substantially on the line III-I ll of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken substantially on the line II-II of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in plan, and is taken on the line I 2I 2 of Fig. 9, and also showing in dot and dash lines some of the mechanism above said line I 2-42;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged, front elevational view of turntable elevating and lowering mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a transverse, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line I4I4 of Fig. 13 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view and is taken on the line I5I5 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow Figs. 16, 17, 18 and 19 are enlarged, side elevational views, partly in section, illustrating different positions of mechanism for imparting movement to a tone arm or other member carrying a sound reproducing instrumentality; and

Fig. 20 is a chart showing movements effected by different cams.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a suitable cabinet, casing or housing C, usually substantially rectangular, and support ing, Figs. 4 and 10, a suitable transverse wall, member or motor board m. A top or cover CI, ordinarily, is pivoted to the aforesaid cabinet, casing or housing C. In the example shown and as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 10, suitable horn structure H is disposed below the motor board m, sound waves issuing from said horn structure and passing to an audience or listener through .a-an orifice or passage, not shown, in the front casing wall.

Above the motor board 111. is a compartment or chamber to which'access may be had by elevat-' ing the aforesaid cover Cl. Disposed in said compartment is a turntable T movable along a substantially vertical path as hereinafter described and adapted to carry one or a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records R, each of which, in the example illustrated, is a centrally perforated circular disk having, on each substantially flat face, spiral groove structure disposed inwardly of the disk periphery and utilizable for the production of sound, each spiral groove terminating in and communicating with a circular groove e eccentrically disposed with respect to the record perforation. 5

When the turntable T carries a plurality of talking machine or phonograph records R, as it usually does, they are disposed thereon in superposed, grouped, or stacked formation, that is, in such relation that one record directly engages and is supported by another. In accordance with my invention, sound is reproduced from the topmost record of the turntable-supported stack of records'by coaction therewith of a stylus s of a sound box S, or equivalent, whereupon said 15 topmost record is suitably removed from saidturntable, as by passage thereof from right to left, Fig. 1, to one side of the aforesaid compartment. Sound is then reproduced from the now topmost record of said stack of records and 20 it, in turn, is passed from right to left, Fig. 1. In this manner, sound is reproduced in succession from the respective topmost records of the group or stack of records, said records being grouped, in more or less irregular relation, to one side of the turntable T.

More specifically, one of the many forms -of mechanism utilizable in accordance with my invention is illustrated as comprising a frame member I spaced below and carriedby the motor board 121.. Any suitable construction may be utilized for this purpose such, for example, as the bolts 2 and spacing washers 3, Fig. 10. This frame member I constitutes a support upon which is mounted or which carries the hereinafter described mechanism. I

Depending from the frame member I and suitably connected thereto is a motive device M of any suitable construction and from which power is obtained to rotate the turntable T and to 40 periodically operate the automatic mechanism hereinafter to be described. In the example shown, the motive device M is an electric motor of the induction disk type and comprises a. disk or armature 4 carried by a suitably journaled, vertical motor shaft 5, there being suitable coil structure, not shown, for rotating the disk 4 and the thereto-secured shaft 5.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8, the shaft 5 is shown as having a sleeve 6 pinned or otherwise suitably secured thereto for rotation therewith. A clutch wheel or spider I is similarly secured to the sleeve 6. Freely rotatable on the sleeve 6 is a disk or member 8 having pivoted thereto at 9, Fig. '7, a clutch segment I0 having a tooth Ilia coactable with the aforesaid clutch wheel I and biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. '7, by a hellcal spring II, or the like, one end of said helical spring II being connected to a pin l2 upstanding from the clutch segment I0 and the other end thereof being connected to a pin I3 upstanding from the disk I.

Rotatable with the disk 8 is a gear I4 which meshes with a gear I5 rotatable on a member I6 upstanding from the frame member I. Rotatable with the gear I5 is a gear I! which meshes with a gear I8 rotatable with a hub I9 pinned or otherwise suitably secured to a cam shaft. for rotation therewith.

As hereinafter described, the aforesaid gear I4 is periodically secured by the above described clutch mechanism to the shaft 5 to rotate there- '0! gear I: and the mechanism leading were cam shaft 28. v Initiation of automatic cycle as eflected by a Y record R Referring Fig. 10, the frame member at one corner thereof, is shown as provided with a circular opening or passagehaving a sleeve 2| 1 fixed therein because connected to said frame member to which a member 22 is also connected. Rotatable in'the member 2| is a hollow adapter member 23, anti-friction members 24 preferably being interposed in any suitable manner between the sleeve 2| and member 23. As illustrated in' Fig. 10, a washer 25 may be utilized to retain some of the anti-friction members 24 in position, the washer 25, if desired, carrying a flanged member 26 receiving the lower part of a sleeve 21 coacting with the aforesaid adaptermember 23. Sleeve 21 presents an. inner curved surface cor responding with the curved upper part of adapter member 23 upon which said sleeve 21 is loosely mounted. The adapter member 23 and sleeve 21 are connected by a pin or member 28 by virtue of which said sleeve 21, as shown in Fig. 10, is

oscillatable in either direction in a plane corresponding with the plane of the paper.

Connected to the sleeve 21 is one end of the vertical section of a tone arm or taper tube 29, the other substantially horizontal end of which hasone end of the usual conduit-forming goose neck 30 oscillatorily connected thereto, the aforesaid sound box S being carried by the other end of goose neck 30. As illustrated in Fig. 4, adjacent ends of the tone'arm 29 and goose neck 38 carry the respective stop members 3| and 32 utilizable as hereinafter described.

With .a construction'of the character just described, sound waves developed by the sound box diaphragm pass through the goose neck 30, tone arm 29 and the adapter member-23. From the latter, said sound waves pass to and through the horn structure H, the passage at the small end thereofbeing suitably held in alinement with the passage through the adapter member 23.

Due to the character of the connection between the adapter member 23 and the sleeve 2|, the sound box S, goose neck 38 and the adjacent sec tion of the tone arm 29 are freely movable in a direction from right to left, Fig. 2, or vice versa. Due to the character of the connection between sleeve 21 and adapter'member'23 and comprising the pin 28, the vertical section of tone arm 29 is tiltable in either direction in a plane correspond ing with the plane of the paper, Fig. 10, sound box S moving either up or down during such tilting movement provided that the latter is of sufficient extent to oahse engagement between the coacting stop members 3| and 32.'

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, .3 and 10, the aforesaid sleeve 21 is shown as having a member 33 secured thereto for movement therewith. Member 33 comprises an arm or extension 33a to which a member 34 is secured, the latter preferably being resilient in character and utilizable as hereinafter described.

The other arm or extension 331) of member 33 comprises a substantially horizontal section 330 utilizable as hereinafter described, Figs. and Beyond the horizontal section. 330, arm 33b com nrises a substantially vertical section 33d to which a rack member 35 is secured in any suitable manner. As clearly illustrated on the drawings, the

frame member is apertured as indicated at 36' so that the aforesaid horizontal section 33c of Lever 31, in the example shown, is plvoted on 10' the aforesaid cam shaft and, for this purpose,

it may be suitably secured to a hub 38 loosely mounted on the upper end of saidcam shaft 28 and maintained in the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10 by a screw 40, or equivalent. As illustrated particularly in Fig. 3, the ,lever 31 is suitably biased in a counter-clockwise direction as, for example, by a helical spring 4|, one end of which is secured to :3, lug depending from said lever 31 and the other end of which is secured to a post or member 42 upstanding from the frame member I, said post 42 coactin'g with the adjacent end of lever 31 to limit movement thereof in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 3.

v Lever 31, adjacent its end .to which the spring 4| is connected, has levers 43 and 44 pivoted to the upper surface thereof. As hereinafter dea scribed, the lever 43 is maintained in theposition illustrated in Fig. 3 when sound is to be automatically reproduced from a plurality of records in succession.

Lever 43, at the end thereof to the left, Fig. 3,

. is adapted to. coact with a lug 45a. upstanding from an arm 45b of a lever 45 spaced above the frame member and pivoted on a member 46 upstanding therefrom. Lever 45 is suitably biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, as by a helical spring v41, one'end of which is connected to a lug projecting from the aforesaid arm 45b of lever 45 and the other end of which is connected to the aforesaid post 42.

Lever comprises an arm 450 having a hookshaped end 45d adapted to coact with one end of the aforesaid clutch crescent'lll as clearly illustratecl in Fig. '1. 45 During a period of sound reproduction, the sound box S moves along the arc of a circle in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, under the influence of the spiral sound reproducing groove of the The tone arm 29 similarly moves, as does the rack member 35, Fig. 3, due to the hereinbefore described connection between the latter and the tone arm 29. The rack teeth of member 35 are soarranged that they idle past the pawl 38 during movement of said member 35 as just described.

Eventually, the sound box stylus s passes from the spiral sound reproducinggroove and into the eccentric groove 6. As a result, the stylus s, sound box Sand tone arm 29 are moved in a direction the reverse of the directionltaken thereby during the period of sound reproduction. The rack member 35 is, similarly moved in reversedirection and, in so doing, adjacent teeth or serrations thereon exercise a clutching effect on pawl '38. Due to engagement effected by the lug 38a, of pawl 38 with the. adjacent surface of lever 31,- the latter is moved by the rack member 35 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3. By reason of such movement, the end of lever 43 to the left, Fig. 3, engages the lug 45a of lever 45 to move the latter in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 3, and disengage the hook-shaped end 35d of arm 450 of lever 35 irom the end of clutch crescent I. Thereupon, spring ll swings the latter Cam mechanism Referring particularly to Fig. 9, the cam shaft 20 is shown as journaled in bearings formed, re-

' spectively, in the frame member I andin a depending section la thereof. j

The aforesaid hub l9 was described as secured to and rotatable with the cam shaft 20. To this hub IS, a camK is secured for rotatable movement therewithj As'hereinafter described, the cam K controls and actuates mechanism for removing 'a record R from the turntable T after each period of sound reproduction and for moving the sound box S laterally toward and from the center of the turntable T.

In the example shown, a cam Kl is secured to and rotatable with the aforesaid gear l8 which, as described, provides the driving connection for the cam shaft 20. The cam Kl is utilizable, as

hereinafter described, in a three-fold manner: to retain the hook-shaped end 45d of the arm 450 of lever 45 out of the path of the rapidly rotating clutch crescent l0 during continuance of the cycle of the automatic mechanism; to prevent chattering engagement of parts of the clutch mechanism; and to gently move the sound box stylus s into the spiral sound reproducing groove at the initiation of each period of sound reproduction.

In the form of my invention herein illustrated,

the cam shaft 20 is disposed in substantially a vertical direction and is utilizable for rotating a second cam shaft 50' disposed in substantially a horizontal direction and journaled in bearings formed, respectively, in the aforesaid depending. sectionla of frame member I and in a secand depending section lb of the latter, Fig. 9'. A gear l pinned to and rotatable with the cam shaft 20 meshes with a similar gear 52 pinned to and rotatable with the cam shaft 50, the relation of said gears 5| and 52 being such that rotation of cam shaft 20 through an angle of 360 degrees effects the same amount of rotative movement for the cam shaft 50.

A cam K3 is secured to and rotatable; with the cam shaft 50. Cam K3, as hereinafter described, operates mechanism for elevating the sound box S just after the conclusion of each period-of sound reproduction and for lowering the same just prior to the initiation of each subsequent period of sound reproduction.

Cam shaft 50 also carries a-cam K4 utilizable for elevating the turntable after each period of sound reproduction.

Discharge of the respective topmost records R from the turntable T after each period of sound reproduction Pivotecl to and spaced above the upper surface I moved from the cam follower 54 is pivoted to one end of a link 55, the other end of which is pivoted to an arm 5'! carried by and oscillatable with a shaft or member 58 extending substantially in a vertical direction through the motor board 111. and frame member I and journaled in a bearing lc of the latter.

Below the frame member I, an arm 59 is secured to the shaft 58 for oscillatory movement therewith,. said arm 59 having pivoted thereto one end of a link 60, Figs. 11 and 12, the other end of said link 50 being pivoted to a lever 6| pivoted at 62 to an arm 63 forming an extension of a collar 64 freely oscillatable on the aforesaid member 22, Fig. 10. The end of arm 63 is flanged and provided with a threaded opening for the 1:;-

reception of a screw 65 coactable with the flanged end of lever 6|, the latter being suitably biased into engagement with said screw 65, as by a hellc'al spring 66 connected to said lever 6| and to the arm 63.

Below the aforesaid arm 59, a second arm 6'! I is secured to the shaft 58 for oscillatory movement therewith. Arm 61 carries a laterally projecting pin or member 68 slidable in a slot 69a of a lever 69 pivoted on a vertical member Ill carried by a boss comprised in the extension lb of frame member I, Figs. 9 and 12.

As illustrated particularly in Fig. 11, the aforesaid shaft 53, above the frame member I, carries a sleeve ll movable with said shaft 58 and terminating in bifurcations 'lla through which extend a pin or member 12 for pivotally mounting an ejector rod or member 13. The latter comprises a tail section (3a with which coacts a screw 14 threaded into a transverse section of screw 18, Fig. 11, said member Tl having a rec- 45,

ord-engaging rim 11a utilizable as hereinafter described. 1 Initiation of the cycle of the automatic mechanism initiates clockwise movement, Fig. 3, of cam K. As a result, lever 53 is swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, under the influence of spring 55. Due to the chain of mechanism hereinbefore described, such movement of lever 53 causes counterclockwise movement, Fig. 1, of the ejector rod 13.

During progressive movement of cam K in the direction just described, the member 15, carried by the end of rod 13, is brought closer and closer to the group of records R rotating on the turntable T and eventually, at its rim 15a, en-

gages the topmost one of said records. Before engagement is thus effected, the member 11 has passed above said topmost record and engages, I

the same at its rim l'la,-the beveled or inclined surface 11b of member 11 to the left of rim 11a, 55

Fig. 5, usually engaging the edge of the topmost record and, during continued movement of member 17 from right to left, Fig. 5, causing slight elevation of the members I1, 15 and the adjacent endof rod 13. When the parts have come to the 7 position just described, namely, wherein the rim 15a of member 15 is in engagement with the aforesaid topmost record, that record, and .all of the group of records, of course, are rotating with the turntable T. However, since the mem- 7 Projecting laterally 40 friction is greatly reduced and the aforesaid-topmost record is not damaged or are parts of the mechanism unduly strained.

The member 11 is spaced above the lower surface of member 15 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of ordinary commercial records. Hence, said member'15, at its rim 15a, engages only the topmost record of the group of records and not the one therebeneath. Preferably, the

- member 15 is provided with a beveled or inclined surface 15b below the rim 150, Fig. 5. Due to this construction, should records of different diameters be arranged on the turntable T as shown in Fig. 5, for example, the member 15 presents a nonabrading surface, namely, the above described beveled or inclined .surface 15b, to theupper face of the second record from the top while moving thereabove although engagement therewith may not necessarily be effected.

After the rim 15a of member 15 engages the edge of the topmost record R as described above, said last named record discontinues further movement of said member 15. Accordingly, the members 15, I1, rod 13 and associated mechanism including the cam roller 54 come to rest and so remain for a brief period. However, movement of cam K continues in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, the lower surface thereof separating from the cam roller 54.

As hereinafter more fully described, mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is adapted to reproduce sound from records of aplurality of different diameters arranged in any desired order on the turntable T. More specifically, ordinary commercial tenand twelve inch records may be employed in accordance with my invention.

In the form of my invention herein shown, the

aforesaid member I5 comes into engagement with the periphery of a twelve inch record after the cam K has moved through an angle of approximately 35 degrees. Where a. ten inch record is disposed uppermost on the turntable T, said member 15 comes into engagement with the periphery thereof after the cam K has moved through an angle of approximately 42 degrees.

As hereinafter described, the topmost record R of the stack of records, no matter whether ten or twelve inch, is released from the turntable stem later in the automatic cycle than is marked by movement of cam K through an angle of either 35 or 42 degrees, as aforesaid. Furthermore, before said topmost record R has been "released from the turntable, the sound box S has been elevated from said topmost record.

Accordingly, when said topmost record R is freed from the restraint imposed by the turntable, the spring 55 becomes effective to further swing lever 53 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3,

. such movement oflever 53 causing further counter-clockwise movement, Fig. 1, of rod 13 and the members I5 and 11 carried thereby. The last described movement of lever 53 is typically a snapping m'ovement limited by return of cam roller 54 to cam K. As a result, the topmost record R is ejected or propelled from the turntable T and passes in a direction from right to left, Fig. 1. Shortly thereafter, cam K becomes effective to swing lever 53 in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 3, and expanding the spring 55. As a result, rod I3 is returned toward the position occupied thereby before the beginning of the automatic cycle.

During the same cycle and under the influence of cam K, rod. 13 makes another excursion in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 1. This action will be discussed hereinafter.

Cam K I and the controls efiected thereby The cam KI as illustrated, for example, in Fig. 3 is shaped substantially as an annulus concentrically disposed with respect to the cam shaft. 28. The. inner face. of' cam Kl comprises a cam surface having a single low area 19. Coactable 10 with said inner face of cam Kl is a cam roller projecting laterally from the free end of arm 45b of lever 45.

When the cycle of the automatic mechanism is initiated, rack 35 causes movement of lever 45 15 in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 3, to disengage the hook-shaped end 4511 of lever 45 from engagement with the end of clutch crescent l8. In so doing, the cam roller 88 is moved substantially out of the low area 19 of cam Kl. 20 As soon as the cycle of the automatic mechanism is initiated, the cam Kl moves in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, and the high area thereof comes into engagement with the cam follower 88. As a result, lever 45 is maintained in the position to 26 which it is swung in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 3, out of the path of the rotating clutch crescent in until cam Kl has moved through an angle of 360 degrees. At this time, the low area 19 of cam Kl has returned to the 80 position from which moved as described above and the arm 45b of lever 45 is swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, under the influence of The outer face of cam Kl comprises a cam 45 surface having a low area 8| and a high area 82, Fig. 3. Coactable with said outer face of cam Kl is a cam roller 83 projecting laterally from a lever 84 pivoted on the aforesaid upstanding member I8. Lever 84 is suitably biased 50 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, as by a. helical spring 85, one end of which is secured thereto and the other end of which is secured to a member or post upstanding from the frame member l. One end of lever 84 carries a laterally 55 projecting roller 88 coactable with a cam surface 81 of the aforesaid disk 8. The other end of lever 84 comprises spaced prongs 88 and 89.

When the cycle of the automatic mechanism is initiated, movement of cam Kl in a clockwise 00- direction, Fig. 3, effects counter-clockwise movement of lever 84, Fig. 3, dueto the fact that the low area 8| of said cam KI recedes from the cam roller 83 carried by said lever 84. As a result, the lateral roller 88 of lever 84 is moved out of 85 the path of the cam surface 81 of disk 8 and is so held during movement of said disk 8 and during operation of the automatic mechanism.

After the cam Kl has moved through nearly 360 degrees, the high area 82 thereof coacts with 70 i reproducing groove of the next record R from which sound is to be reproduced. This action' will be more fully hereinafter described. The particular prong, whether 88 or 89, which thus engages the member 34 depends upon the diameter of the topmost record R on the turntable T.

Immediately after the high area 82 of cam KI recedes from the cam roller 83 of lever 84, the low area 8| of said cam KI comes into registering relation with said cam roller 83 and lever 84, under the influence of spring 85, swings in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, to thereby move.

Sound boa: elevating mechanism Referring particularly to Figs. 9 and 10, a cam roller 99 is shown as coacting with the aforesaid cam K3. Roller 99 is carried by a depending arm 9Ia of a lever 9I pivoted on a member 92 supported by the aforesaid depending section In of frame member I and an adjacent depending section Id of said frame member I. The

free end of lever 9| comprises an apron or elon-- gated section 93 coactable with the horizontal section 33cof member 33.

Soon after the cycle of automatic operation is initiated, cam K3 functions to swing the lever 9| counter-clockwise, Fig. 10. In sodoing, apron 93 engages the horizontal section 33c of member 33 and, during continued movement of lever 9| in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 10, the member 33, sleeve 21 and tone arm 29 are swung clockwise, Fig. 10, about the pin 28.

As a result, rack member 35 is disengaged from pawl 38. Accordingly, lever 31, under the influence of spring 4I' swings in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 3, until the end thereof, removed from the pawl 38, engages the post 42. This is the position occupied by said lever 31 during any period of sound reproduction. Lever 45, however, for the reason hereinbefore stated, does not return at this time to the position occupied thereby during a period of sound reproduction due to the action thereon of cam KI.

When the tone arm 29 is swung clockwise, Fig. 10, as described above, the stop members 3| and 32- are first engaged and thereafter the sound box S and its stylus s'are elevated from the topmost record R of the group of records on the turntable T. This occurs prior to the time that said topmost record R is released from the turntable stem. The cam K3 continues to hold the sound 'box S elevated while it is swung, as hereinafter described, first counter-clockwise and then clockwise, Fig. 1, the horizontal section 33c of member 33 sliding upon the apron 93 during this action. Finally, just prior to the conclusion of the automatic cycle of operation,

.the cam K3 lowers the apron 93 to permit counter-clockwise movement, Fig. 10, of the tone arm 29. As a result, the sound box stylus is lowered into engagement with the now top-, most record R on the. turntable T just outwardly of the spiral sound reproducing groove, the stop members 3| and 32 separating somewhat after the sound box stylus s engages said last named record.

Elevation of the turntable T Referring particularly to Fig. 6, the aforesaid 5 sleeve 6, which as stated is rotatable with the motor shaft 5, is shown as comprising an upperextension 601. of reduced cross-sectional configuration and extending both above and below the v turntable T which, as shown in Fig. 6, is in its 10 lowermost position. Upwardly of the turntable T as the latter appears in Fig. 6, the sleeve extension 6a comprises a plurality of resilient fingers 6b forming the turntable stem and each terminating in an enlarged section 60 to thereby 15 form a chamber flaring downwardly for the reception of a metallic ball 94, or the like, which rests upon the upper end of a rod 95 freely slidable within the aforesaid sleeve 6a. Ordinarily and as illustrated particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, 20 the aforesaid resilient fingers 6b are formed by suitably slotting a sleeve and thereafter disposing the unslotted base thereof on the upper end of the upper extension 6a of sleeve 6. Rod 95 comprises an enlarged base section 95a. through 25 which and to both sides thereof a pin 96 extends, opposite sides of said pin 96 extending, respectively, through alined, elongated slots formed in opposite sides of the sleeve 6. outwardly of sleeve 6, each end of pin 96 extends into a ring or collar 39 91 which is thereby slidably mounted on the sleeve 6. Rod 95 is suitably biased into the position shown in Fig. 6 as, for example, by a helical spring 98 disposed within the sleeve 6 and en-f gaging the base section 95:; of said rod 95. illustrated, the spring 98 is supported by the upper end of the motor shaft 5 and,.if desired, a reduced extension 5a of the latter may be received interiorly of the spring convolutions.

As stated, the sleeve 6 is rotatable with the 4 motor shaft 5. The upper extension 6a of sleeve 6 together with the fingers 6b and enlarged sections 60 thereof, likewise, are rotatable with the motor shaft 5. The rod 95, due to the driving connection effected by pin 96, is rotatable with the sleeve 6. At the same time, said rod 95, due

to the alined slots in sleeve 6 is movable, to a limited extent, interiorly of said sleeve 6, its extension 6:: and the flngers 6b.

The turntable T, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 6, rests directly upon and is supported by the flange 99a. of a sleeve 99, said turntable, flange 99a and sleeve 99 being rotatable together'as a unit. The sleeve 99 is freely slidable upon the extension 6a of sleeve 6 to which said sleeve 99 is connected for rotation therewith in any suit-- able manner. To this end, the exterior surface of the aforesaid extension 6a may be of polygonal configuration in cross-section and the interior surface of sleeve 99 of similar polygonal 80 configuration In cross-section. The flanged section between the sleeve 6 and its upper extension 6a forms a stop limiting downward movement of the sleeve 99.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, the

aforesaid sleeve 99 is shown as carrying a ring I99 which is rotatable therewith. Ring I99, pref- .erably in connection with anti-friction members MI, is supported by a non-rotatable ring I92, in 

